Anti-Aging Powerhouses

Would you like to increase muscle mass, lose weight, build stronger bones, lower your risk for heart disease and diabetes, improve your immune system and preserve memory?  Two adrenal hormones are able to do all of this, but with normal aging the production of these health-promoting powerhouses naturally declines.

I’m referring to pregnenolone and DHEA (de-hydro-epi-androsterone).  Made directly from cholesterol these steroid hormones are primarily created by the adrenal glands.  Reaching their peak levels about age 30 they then decline about 1-2% each year in men and women.  Even under ideal conditions about half of people have levels below optimum by age 50 and by age 60 it is rare to find someone who has a healthy blood level of these hormones.

Pregnenolone is known for its role in mental processing and memory.  It is also produced in the brain and has been shown to play a role in the creation of memory but also protecting the nerve circuits that preserve memory.  Scientists believe that the hormone pregnenolone has vast potential for maintaining healthy cognitive function and may be “the most potent memory enhancer yet reported.” 

Research shows that low pregnenolone correlates with Alzheimer’s dementia.  Pregnenolone stimulates the growth of new nerves in the brain and increases a memory enhancing neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.  Further studies show that supplementing pregnenolone can reverse memory deficits.  It also has the amazing ability to stimulate nerve transmission while some of its metabolites actually calm over-excited nerve tissue. This makes pregnenolone sharpen memory and cognition while helping conditions such as anxiety.

DHEA is made from pregnenolone and has a wealth of benefits including musculoskeletal support, promotion of mental health, immune system regulation and maintaining cardiovascular health. 

Good for bones, muscle and metabolism, DHEA has been shown to increase bone mineral density, increase muscle mass and stimulate breakdown of fat leading to weight loss.

Improved mental function, memory and mood are also associated with DHEA.  Healthy DHEA levels improve even sex drive.  Like pregnenolone, DHEA is a potent neurosteroid hormone that has protective and stimulatory affects in the brain.

The past several years have witnessed extraordinary advances in our understanding of DHEA’s cardio protective power.  A 2009 study of 153 diabetic men with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) found that 77% were DHEA-S deficient, significantly more than in healthy peers.  Over the next 19 months of follow-up, 43 of those men died of CHD; the data showed that low DHEA and low testosterone levels were two of the four most significant predictors of death.

Another 2009 study of 247 men with an average age of 76 years revealed that those with low DHEA had a 96% increased risk of diabetes and a 48% increased risk of heart disease. 

The immune boosting effects of DHEA are well known.  It boosts antibody production; enhances the activity of monocytes, immune cells that attack cancer cells and viruses; activates natural killer cells, immune cells that attack and destroy viruses and other foreign invaders; and maximizes the anti-cancer function of immune cells known as T lymphocytes.

Even the skin benefits from DHEA.  In 2008 Canadian scientists found more than 50 DHEA-responsive genes in the skin.  DHEA “switched on” multiple collagen-producing genes and reduced expression of genes associated with production and cornification (hardening) of the tough keratinocytes that form calluses and rough skin. The researchers concluded, “DHEA could exert an anti-aging effect in the skin through stimulation of collagen biosynthesis, improved structural organization of the dermis while modulating keratinocyte metabolism.”

Anti-Aging Benefits

Whether or not adrenal hormones extend the life span, they clearly improve the quality of life.  Studies show people who supplement pregnenolone and DHEA have more energy, sleep better, and handle stress better.  They report an increased “well-being and overall vitality”. 

Adrenal supplements are available over-the-counter, without a prescription.  I strongly encourage obtaining blood levels of pregnenolone and DHEA-sulfate (the more stable form for measuring) prior to supplementing and then again to insure proper dosing.  As with other steroid hormones there is no benefit, and usually harm, in taking too large a dose of hormone replacement.  Optimal dosing of adrenal hormones is only obtained through testing.

The adrenal hormones do not cause cancer, but those with active hormone sensitive cancers should not take DHEA or pregnenolone due to concerns of stimulating the already existing cancer.  Taking too much DHEA will usually cause excess hair growth, oily skin, acne, or lead to agitation.  I’ve seen many men taking huge doses of DHEA thinking it would boost testosterone levels – not so – and in fact it leads to more estrogen, which is not healthy.  Again, optimal dosing based on labs.

Seek brands that are “micronized” for better absorption and sustained blood levels.  Usual DHEA doses are 10-25mg daily for women, and 25-50mg daily for men.  Optimal blood levels are around 200 mcg/dL for women, and 300-350 mcg/dL for men.  Usual doses of pregnenolone are 25-100mg daily for men and women with optimal blood levels around 200 mcg/dL.  I recommend brands from Life Extension or Douglas Labs.

With the wealth of science showing the powerful benefits of adrenal hormones in disease prevention and improved quality of life these safe and simple supplements should be part of every adult’s health maintenance plan.

FREE SEMINARS

“Food Allergies and Gut Health”

Monday, August 5^th at 6pm

“Detoxification Made Simple”

Monday, August 26^{th at} 6pm

RSVP @ 245-6911 or rsvp@imcwc.com

Bio

Scott Rollins, MD, is Board Certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.  He specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement, thyroid and adrenal disorders, fibromyalgia and other complex medical conditions.  He is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado (www.imcwc.com).  Call (970) 245-6911 for an appointment or more information.  

Vitality for the Aging Woman

Hormone replacement is changing the paradigm of normal aging

Teary eyed, my patient relayed to me that she “was tired and depressed, not sleeping well, frustrated with her weight, and had no sex drive”.  Despite being in previously great health, and continuing good diet and exercise habits, her body was in her words “out of control”.  There were also new aches and pains as well as noting her skin looked dry and lifeless. 

Added to this was a host of new medications started in recent years, including Prozac for mood, Xanax for anxiety, Ambien for sleep, and Lipitor for her newly diagnosed high cholesterol.  To make matters worse and behind the scenes, at the young age of 55, silent aging processes such as thinning bones and artery plaque were beginning.

The stress of not feeling well, poor sleep, and medication side effects were pushing her toward adrenal fatigue.  The high stress hormone called cortisol had been on overdrive for many years, causing the secondary effects of high blood sugar and high insulin, which conspire along with cortisol to put weight on especially around the midsection.  In times of additional stressors her “reserves” of cortisol were depleted leaving her emotionally labile and energy drained.

This patient represents thousands of patients that I’ve had the pleasure of successfully helping with all of these issues.  While the sad truth is that most of them had stories that included the majority of the issues in this one example, the good news is that a real solution exists.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

Hormones are chemical messengers that help the entire body function normally.   They work in concert with the nervous system by responding to neuronal commands that regulate everything from growth and development, to reproduction, to the aging process itself.  Hormones control metabolism, mood, energy, sleep, and sex drive.  Put simply, humans are designed to be healthy with optimal levels of hormones.

Bioidentical means identical to our biology.  A bioidentical hormone has 100% exactly the same chemical and molecular structure as the hormone that is normally found in the body.  By contrast, many drugs are similar to natural hormones, and will activate hormone receptors in the body, but are not identical.  Birth control pills, for example, are much stronger than our natural hormones yet not identical.

For women, the natural ovarian hormones include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, and these hormones plummet after menopause.  In the world of hormone replacement, there are synthetic “look-alike” drugs that will stimulate the natural hormone receptors, such as brand name Premarin for estrogen, and Provera for progesterone.  Both of these drugs have effects beyond that of their natural hormone equivalent, and as one would expect, numerous side effects not observed with bioidentical hormones.

If the exact replica of a hormone were available for use in humans, then why would we ever use a synthetic drug that was not bioidentical?  Because you can’t patent something that is naturally occurring, and thus if you are a pharmaceutical company you can’t make any money on it.  Enter the invention of a drug that is similar enough to bind and activate hormone receptors but unique enough to warrant a patent.  The patented drug is then worth the hundreds of millions of dollars necessary to get FDA approval, and in the case of hormone replacement for women generate billions of dollars of sales each year, for decades.

Unlike drugs such as Premarin, which contains ten estrogens derived from pregnant horse urine and none of which are the same as the three naturally occurring estrogens in the human body, bioidentical hormones are derived from plant sources and synthesized into the exact same chemical found in the human body.

Evidence of Safety

In 2002 the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study shocked doctors and patients alike with the revelation and proclamation that “hormones cause cancer”.  More specifically, the non-bioidentical look-alike to progesterone, called Provera, caused a 26% increase in the rate of invasive breast cancer.  Provera also caused a 200% increase in blood clots, a 41% increase in stroke, and a 29% increase in heart attack or death from heart disease.

It is worth noting in a case of “missing the forest for the trees” that for the treatment group in the WHI, the decreased mortality from hip fractures and colon cancer offset the increase in breast cancer and 97.5% of women on treatment had no adverse events.

Bioidentical progesterone has been studied extensively, in dozens of studies head to head with Provera, and simply stated it does not have the same risks.  For everything bad with Provera, progesterone is the opposite.  As an example, in the largest study involving progesterone, the European EPIC study involving over 50,000 women taking hormones, it was found that progesterone actually lowered the risk of breast cancer by 10%.

Evidence of Efficacy

I recently had a new patient come to me for help with BHRT.  She moved to our area about a year ago, sought treatment from a local gynecologist, was told that BHRT was “voo-doo” and promptly instructed to stop her hormone therapy, which she did.  A year later her health had deteriorated to that point that she could hardly function.  After being back on BHRT she is now recovering her health.  I have thousands of patients who will vouch for the fact that BHRT works very well to support health and harmony.

HRT is not about treating menopausal withdrawal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats or mood swings.  Although it does treat those symptoms quite effectively, HRT is really about preventing disease and maintaining quality of life.  It’s about keeping the body operating well.  Not having optimal hormone levels is like letting a fine automobile just run out of oil, then declaring it is “growing old” as the red light comes on and it overheats.

Bioidentical hormones were being used long before drug companies even came into existence.  They are available in a few commercial forms, but mostly we employ the compounding pharmacist to make BHRT formulations that are specific to each patient and uniquely available in either a tablet that dissolves under the tongue or a topical cream that contains just the right mixture of the ovarian hormones.

There isn’t anything “voo-doo” about BHRT.  It is a well researched and proven branch of medicine that is growing rapidly as more and more people discover its health promoting and quality of life benefits.

If you wish to take a proactive approach to health and aging, and maximize the quality as well as the quantity of life, then you should research and consider BHRT.  If you would like to see more evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of BHRT then consider attending my seminar on BHRT for women in which we review more details on the various ovarian hormones, studies showing the safety and efficacy of BHRT, and an outline of treatment protocols.

FREE SEMINARS

“Bioidentical Hormone Replacement for WOMEN

Monday, April 29^th

“Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome”

Monday, May 13^th

Seminars are at 6pm, at the IMC

RSVP at 245-6911

Bio

Scott Rollins, MD, is Board Certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.  He specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement for men and women, thyroid and adrenal disorders, fibromyalgia, weight loss and other complex medical conditions.  He is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado (www.imcwc.com) and Bellezza Laser Aesthetics (www.bellezzalaser.com).  Call 245-6911 for an appointment or more information.

Are Your Foods Killing You?

Believe it or not most of us have varying degrees of health problems caused by the foods we eat.  Food intolerances or allergies can lead to many common symptoms and diseases, and surprisingly many foods we think of as healthy are common culprits.  Moreover, these foods are often ones we frequently eat. 

When I say “allergies”, most people, including doctors, think of the originally described hypersensitivity reaction that involves the “immediate” immune reaction.  This is an obvious reaction such as getting stung by a bee and noting immediate swelling and redness or eating something that causes immediate swelling in the throat or generalized itching.  This reaction is mediated by an antibody called IgE and the release of histamine, which causes blood vessels to swell and leak, leading to the familiar symptoms such as hives or hayfever.  Common skin tests or serum RAST testing for allergies will test for this reaction.

In actuality there are three other immune reactions, one of which takes 12-72 hours to really get going after a trigger is encountered.  The main antibody in this immune reaction is called IgG and it can be tested in a blood sample.  We refer to these food allergies as “intolerances” or “sensitivities” but this is semantics – they are in fact hypersensitivity reactions that stimulate an abnormal immune system response.  I call them “delayed food allergies”.

The most common symptoms caused by delayed food allergies are brain fog, fatigue, nasal congestion, indigestion, gas, bloating, diarrhea, rashes and joint aches.  We also see mood changes such as depression, anxiety or attention-deficit or hyperactivity.  Even weight gain is caused by food allergies – patients commonly lose 10-20 pounds within a few months of removing certain foods from their diet.

Another amazing result of food allergies is their connection to diseases, particularly autoimmune diseases.  We now know that in order to get certain autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Type-1 Diabetes, or Lupus, you pretty much have to have the right genetics.  But not everyone with the right genetics will get these diseases.  You must also have a “trigger” that causes an abnormal immune response, which will then overwhelm and confuse the regulating part of your immune system, allowing the appearance of antibodies that begin attacking your own body.

Probably most of the time the trigger for autoimmune disease begins in the gut, and most of that is food allergy related.  Other known triggers for autoimmune disease include “leaky” gut, bacterial imbalances in the gut, chronic infections, chemical toxins or heavy metal build-up, hormone imbalances and stress.  If you can find and remove the trigger in time, you can reverse the disease!

Some foods can literally cause holes in gut lining, known as “leaky gut”, which will allow large proteins and toxins to leak from the gut into the bloodstream causing an immune reaction.  Foods such as the nightshade family (e.g. tomatoes, peppers, potatoes) can cause “leaky gut” due to breakdown of the proteins that hold gut cells together.  Other food families such as chickpeas (Cicer arietinum), soya beans (Glycine max), lucerne (alfalfa) sprouts (Medicago sativa) and varieties of Phaseolus vulgaris (navy beans, haricot beans, kidney beans) contain “saponins” which can also cause leaky gut by literally punching holes in the gut wall.

The most common delayed food allergies are to wheat, dairy, egg, corn, soy, sugar and yeast.  Any food can be an allergen, but these top the list.  One can simply eliminate these foods from their diet and see if they feel better.  This is called an “elimination diet”.  After a month or two of eliminating possible allergic foods, a “food challenge” is then done by reintroducing the foods, one at a time, for several days to see if any symptoms return.  Careful tracking of symptoms during the challenge phase is critical in sorting out which foods are really causing problems.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that is triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.  With exposure to gluten, the immune system begins making antibodies that attack and destroy the muscle lining in the gut, leading to serious problems with malabsorption and leaky gut.  Celiac disease is the most well known food allergy syndrome and the link between a food and autoimmune disease serves as a model for other food / autoimmune connections.

The best way to determine if you have food allergies is to get a blood test for IgG antibodies to foods.  But don’t bother using just any old lab for food allergy testing.  At last count I have used 12 labs during two decades of doing food allergy testing and I’ve come to the conclusion that not all labs can do delayed food allergy testing!

I’ve spent thousands of dollars out of my pocket to do “blinded” testing of various labs and I’ve busted many with lack of reproducible results.  Most labs I have tested with the same blood sent with one vial as the real patient’s blood and another as a “fake” patient and found the results quite different.  The common labs that accept insurance do not do delayed food allergy testing well – I’ve tried dozens of times with each of them without clinical success. 

My favorite lab for food allergy testing is Immunolabs (www.immunolabs.com).  They have been doing only food allergy tests for over 35 years, are the most accurate, and their follow up literature and technical help are unsurpassed.  You can go online and take a symptom questionnaire to see if you might have food allergies.  The cost is $175 for the basic 88-food panel, $355 for the 154-food panel, and we often add specific reflex tests for gluten allergy, celiac disease and Candida overgrowth.

Having provided food allergy testing for over almost 20 years I continue to be amazed at the outcomes with the elimination of food allergens.  In recent years we test 3 to 4 people each and every week, and I’d estimate 70 to 80% of all patients tested report positive results, with at least 20 to 30% reporting “amazing” results.  For many it was the key to helping them lose weight, cure a chronic illness or markedly improve how they feel.

Food allergy testing is easy and I recommend it to everyone.  We’ve seen hundreds of patients undergo amazing recoveries after years of struggling to find an answer to their health problems.  Our special food allergy program involves testing with follow up medical and nutritional counseling.  Call the clinic at 245-6911 if you would like more information or to get tested.

INSET

FREE SEMINAR

“Food Allergies and Intestinal Health”

Monday, March 18^th at 6pm, at the IMC

RSVP at 245-6911

Bio

Scott Rollins, MD, is Board Certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.  He specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement for men and women, thyroid and adrenal disorders, fibromyalgia, weight loss and other complex medical conditions.  He is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado (www.imcwc.com) and Bellezza Laser Aesthetics (www.bellezzalaser.com).  Call 245-6911 for an appointment or more information.

Breast Cancer Prevention

Breast Cancer Prevention
The Role of Estrogens and Soy

One of the most important elements in breast cancer prevention, and in applying safe methods for hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is in understanding the role of estrogen receptors in the body.  

There are two estrogen receptors subtypes, estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta), and they found in most every organ system in the body of both men and women.   Cancers are always involved with ERalpha.  Estrogens and similar chemicals will bind to ERalpha and stimulate breast tissue proliferation and growth, whereas ERbeta will inhibit proliferation and prevent breast cancer.

There are three types of estrogen, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3).  E2 will equally bind and activate ERalpha and ERbeta, while E1 strongly binds to ERalpha at a 5:1 ratio, thus causing significantly increased proliferation of breast tissue.  E3 will bind to ERbeta at a 3:1 ratio thus having potential for breast cancer prevention.  

Prior to menopause, women have equal ERalpha and ERbeta expression, whereas after menopause the ratio changes showing increased ERalpha sites.  Furthermore, E3 is the most prevalent estrogen prior to menopause, but is replaced by E1 as the dominant estrogen after menopause.  Thus, one can appreciate that the conditions for breast cancer increase after menopause due to increased ERalpha expression and the increased ratio of E1.

I recommend the use of E3 when replacing women’s hormones.  The safe and effective use of E3 for treating the symptoms of menopause has been established in many studies, going back over 30 years.  There are no accounts of increased breast cancer associated with the use of E3 and in fact there are studies that show it reduces the development of breast cancer equal to that of one of the leading oncology drugs, tamoxifen, but without the side effects of tamoxifen.  

E3 may act as an estrogen and an anti-estrogen.  It will bind to ERalpha but only for a short time and does not stimulate the cellular response like E1 and E2.  Thus, is effectively blocks E1 and E2 binding, limiting genetic transcription and preventing breast proliferation.  

When prescribing HRT the inclusion of E3 is a critical part of creating a safe and effective hormone balance.  At the behest of Wyeth, the pharmaceutical giant and maker of the non-bioidentical drugs premarin and provera, the FDA has tried to remove E3 from the marketplace.  This type of back-door politics between government and big-pharma is creating a less than-safe situation for women trying to safely replace their hormones, and is considered criminal by many experts in the field of HRT.  

The Role of Soy

Soy can also play a huge role in the prevention of breast cancer, but it is a misunderstood food source that needs clarification.  Soy is a phytoestrogen, which is a plant-derived chemical that is similar to estrogen.  Soy phytoestrogens are NOT estrogens nor do they act like estrogens.  Soy phytoestrogens are more like anti-estrogens that bind to ERbeta with a 20:1 affinity over ERalpha and in addition they will increase the number of ERbeta and decrease the ERalpha in cells.  More ERbeta sites equal less cancer!
When talking about the benefits of soy, I am referring only to FERMENTED forms of soy, which include:

• Tempeh a fermented soybean cake with a firm texture and nutty, mushroom-like flavor
• Miso, a fermented soybean paste with a salty, buttery texture
• Natto, fermented soybeans with a sticky texture and strong, cheese-like flavor
• Soy sauce, which is traditionally made by fermenting soybeans, salt and enzymes

Fermented soy will improve estrogen metabolism by decreasing the amount of cancer promoting metabolites.  It will also increase the P53 tumor suppressor gene expression, increase the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene expressions and decrease the HER2 gene expressions, all of which lowers the risk of cancer.  Women with low BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene activity have a higher rate of breast cancer, and decreasing the HER2 gene expression will slow breast cancer growth.
Older men are prone to prostate cancer, have higher estrogen levels than women of the same age, and increased ERalpha sites on prostate cells.  This leads to more cancer.  Again, soy will increase the ERbeta sites on tumor cells in breast, prostate, and even ovarian cancers.
Unfermented soy products, including tofu, and processed soy products like soymilk, soy cheese, soy burgers and soy ice cream, are NOT healthy.  There are thousands of studies showing unfermented soy is linked to digestive disturbances, immune dysfunction, thyroid disorders, hormone disruption and more!  The billion-dollar soy industry has a million-dollar disguise in the advertising designed to promote the health benefits of soy.  
Learn about fermented soy.  Tempeh is like a “meat substitute”, similar to the more commonly known tofu, typically cut into cubes and sautéed, baked or fried.  Miso is usually found in miso soups, often paired with rice, and is also used in marinades and sauces.  Natto is usually paired with rice and veggies, and flavored with everything from soy sauce to sugar.  Natto has the benefits of soy, mentioned above, plus it has a positive blood thinning effect, and is high in Vitamin K which helps build strong bones.  
Cooking with fermented soy is not hard, but it is not well known in our culture.  The next time you shop, try something different and improve you health - add some fermented soy products to your list!
INSET

Free seminars

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement for WOMEN
Monday, August 20th at 6pm, at the IMC

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement for MEN
Monday, September 3rd at 6pm, at the IMC

RSVP at 245-6911 or online at rsvp@imcwc.com

Bio

Scott Rollins, MD, is Board Certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.  He specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement for men and women, thyroid and adrenal disorders, fibromyalgia and other complex medical conditions.  He is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado (www.imcwc.com).  Call (970) 245-6911 for an appointment or more information.